The latest NYC Transit survey of phones found 91% of them in "working order" in the second quarter of 1999. But the agency tests only whether the handset is undamaged and in an 800 number works, not what happens when a quarter is used.

A working public phone system in the subways is essential for rider convenience and safety.

NYC Transit has just announced it would try the services of an independent contractor to monitor phone functionality. In response to earlier Straphangers Campaign surveys, Bell Atlantic, the subway system contractor, eliminated the coinless phones which had an even higher rate of disrepair than regular payphones.